How much will Jimmy Butler be able to help this lineup?
Just last year, the Heat allowed the second-fewest points per game in the NBA, much of which
can be credited to the effectiveness of the 2-3 zone implemented by Erik Spoelstra. You can also look at the phenomenal post defense of Hassan Whiteside, who spent the 2018-2019 season blocking nearly two shots per game when healthy.
As the Heat lost Whiteside to a Portland Trailblazers team that has previously lacked stability
inside the paint, there will be lots of work ahead to preserve the strength of their renowned
defense. League-wide, the Miami Heat finished 14th in 3-point FG% allowed during a season where they couldn’t consistently find solutions to stop elite NBA backcourts, both in transition and
beyond the arc.
Landing a top defender in Jimmy Butler broadens the scope at which the Heat can capably guard
a wide range of the NBA’s top offensive talent, especially as the league has seen countless teams
drastically shift their focuses toward three-point shooting and PACE all in the name of offensive
efficiency. Simply put, Jimmy Butler will be just as comfortable fending off screens from set
offenses as he is chasing down guards that push the ball on fastbreaks.
Unsurprisingly, Butler will also face a great challenge in taking on the most offensive responsibility in the form of scoring for this Heat team. We’re talking a team that finished 26th across the league in both points per game and offensive efficiency last season.
As team-leading scorers Josh Richardson and Dwyane Wade both left the Heat on very good terms, Butler will look to provide a boost to the Heat’s mid-range game, while drastically improving the team’s ability to slash and draw fouls in the paint. Considering Miami had the
worst team free-throw percentage in the league last season at 69.5%, Butler’s 86% from the charity stripe will allow the team to capitalize on past missed scoring opportunities that could ultimately make the difference between making or missing the playoffs.
In spite of the amount of raw talent that Jimmy Butler brings to the table, there is still an aspect of his play that would benefit from more attention. This area is his 3-point shooting.
Butler’s most recent season with the Philadelphia 76ers was his worst season shooting from three since his final year with the Chicago Bulls. Given that the Heat have recently underperformed
behind the arc and considering that the front office never truly found a replacement for Wayne
Ellington, there’s no denying that there is more opportunity than ever for Butler to further
develop his 3-point shot.
A high number of offensive possessions will involve him as the centerpiece. This means that there will be chances for him to show his creativity and expand the range of his game as Miami potentially takes the time to shop for more scoring options over the next 12 months.